Deviate from the plan.|Nov. 02, 2021|United States|81 Min.|n/A
Genre: Drama;Horror;Science;Fiction;Thriller
Description: **Outlier 2021: A Gripping Tale of Survival and Escape**
After a public altercation with her abusive boyfriend, James (Logan Fleisher), Olivia Davis (Jessica Strayer) makes the brave decision to flee the toxic relationship. With the help of a compassionate stranger, Thomas (Thomas Cheslek), she seeks refuge. As Olivia grapples with her past trauma and struggles to trust herself, she begins to notice Thomas working on a mysterious project, though he keeps the details hidden. Feeling increasingly uneasy, Olivia decides it’s time to leave. However, fearing for her safety, Thomas takes action to protect her. Olivia is now forced to confront her fears, uncover the truth, and break free from her traumatic past.
The film opens with a tense sequence: a terrified woman runs through the forest, looking over her shoulder before tripping and hitting her head. Meanwhile, a man chops wood for firewood, interspersed with scenes of him connecting his smartphone to a massive mainframe computer. Directed by Nate Strayer and co-written with Jona Doug, *Outlier* masterfully blends slasher elements with a juxtaposition of nature’s raw wilderness and modern technological advancements. Even in the digital age, primal instincts find a way to surface.
The woman in the woods is Olivia (Jessica Denton), who, even before her escape, lives in constant fear of her controlling and abusive boyfriend, James. Submissive and perpetually apologetic, Olivia struggles to avoid provoking his anger. Thomas, the tech-savvy woodchopper, steps in when he witnesses James violently confronting Olivia at a gas station. Having experienced abuse in his own childhood, Thomas is determined to help her heal. As Olivia confesses her desire to run away, a theme echoed in the film’s opening, Thomas offers her shelter at his secluded lakeside cabin, assuring her that heroes do exist.
*Outlier* is a suspenseful exploration of trauma, survival, and the courage to break free from the past.
Cast director: Nate Strayer
Cast actor: Jessica Denton, Thomas Cheslek, Logan Fleisher, Dwight Alan, Nate Strayer, Kally Khourshid
Original name: Outlier